Devotion
Dealing With Hurt
Frances Taylor
What do you do when someone "sins" against you? No one goes through life without being hurt by someone. Most of the time, the person causing the pain doesn't even realize it. Sometimes the person truly intends the pain. But, what do we do about it? In this gospel passage, Jesus tells his disciples to first go to the person and keep it between the two of them. In this way, the person who has offended the other can explain his/her intent, apologize for any pain caused, and the relationship can be maintained. But what happens when the first thing someone does is go and tell all his/her friends and family members about it? There can be resentment against the guilty party that could be unfounded. I have known of women who have complained and complained about the treatment they have received from spouses or children, bosses or coworkers, and never confronted the person directly. I'm not talking about abuse or abusive situations, but normal slights and offenses that can occur with anyone with whom you spend a lot of time. You then meet the "offending" person at a gathering and everything is "fine." You may still feel a bit of anger at the one who caused your friend or family member such anguish. But the person explains that she finally sat down with the offending person and had a heart to heart talk and everything got ironed out. If those people had first spoken to the offender, it would have been settled a lot sooner and no one else would have been dragged into the argument. Obviously, Jesus also laid out some ground rules if the situation could not be so easily solved. Bring along a couple of witnesses to the confrontation and then if nothing can be resolved bring it to a higher authority. This gospel gives us a good opportunity to think about our own actions and how we can better resolve conflicts in the future.
Prayer
Loving and forgiving God, give us the grace to bring our grievances to the person responsible and not spread gossip or slander without giving the person the opportunity to apologize. May we treat others as you treat us. Amen.
Morning Prayer
Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
Inspiration
God had promised David that his house, his kingly line, would continue forever. And though it was interrupted when Judah fell to Babylon in 586 B. C. , Jesus Christ came as the Messianic Son of David and fulfills, and will fulfill, the promises God made to David.
Prayer
O Son of David, you are even today enthroned in Heaven on high. You have raised up the tabernacle of David, which had fallen (Acts 15:16). And yet, we await the day when you will reign on earth from David's throne. Help us to live righteous before you even now, as we wait for that righteous Kingdom to come. Amen.
Night Prayer
Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
Inspiration
As we stand up to our necks in trouble, we call upon the Lord because we know that He is present and will provide help. We are confident in His love and have faith in His desire to come to our aid. When trampled by the struggles of life, He is the only one we will cling to for comfort and peace. His unconditional love surrounds us and lifts us from the miry pit.
Prayer
Dear Lord, You are the only one we cling to when we struggle. We love You without understanding the depth of Your compassion for us. Thank You for always being present. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
The Rich Man And Lazarus
Frances Taylor
The rich man has enough money to feed his dogs, but doesn't even give crumbs for Lazarus. He has probably walked by Lazarus many times without even seeing him. Both Lazarus and the rich man die. Lazarus is safe in the "bosom of Abraham" and the rich man is not so lucky. The rich man can see Lazarus while he is suffering in the unending fire. He wants Abraham to send someone from the dead to warn his brothers about what the result of greed can be, but Abraham's answer I find interesting. Abraham says, "If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead." After Jesus rose from the dead and those who were witnesses to his resurrection reported it widely, but there were those who wouldn't accept it. There are those who won't accept it today. Over the years, there have been many people who have had experiences of both heaven and hell. People who have had these near death experiences have ...
